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' May 1, 1928.

H. MANNING WELL DRILLING AND VACUUM CLEAN-OUT MACHINE Filed July 19, 1927 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEY.

. an nan-unto, or runes;

Application fled July 19,

This invention relates to well drilling and especially well cleaning machines 0 the type wherein a column of water is kept flowing downwardly between the .wall of the hole and the drill pipe and upward through the drill pipe, and by thus circulating the water, the cuttings are removed from the hole 1n advance of the drill bit, and the principal object of the invention resides m the provision of a new and improved drill-'- ing and cleaning machine by which this method of drilling and cleaning of wells may be advantageously. applied to present day operations, by which is brought about a considerable reduction in o fierating costs, yet increasing to a remarka le degree the speed and efliciency in carrying out the operation of drilling or cleaning a well.

Another object of the invention resides in the portability of the machine, by which 1t may be readily and quickly transported from one location to another, and by reason of a novel collapsible mast and associated parts, only a very short time isrequired m setting up the machine for operation, and reducing the same again for transportat on .to another location.

Still another object of the invention resides in an improved mast structure, carrying at its lower end a portable rotary table equipped with a driving means so arranged relative to the rear wheel of the self propelled conveyance upon which the apparatus is mounted, so as to be operated thereby.

With the foregoing objects as primary the invention has particular reference to its salient features of construction andarrangement-of parts by which said objects are attained and which will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connec-' tion with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 represents a diagrammatic View of a motor truck showing theinvention installed thereon.

Figure-2 is a side elevational view of the motor truck showing the invention prepared for operating, and illustrating in dotted tion of the im roved vacuum sett lines, the mast folded upon the truck for transportation.

Figure 3 1s a detail view partly in secand pump, an

Figure 4 1s a detail view of the proof stick for removing samples of strata from the I H it. i

PATENT zrnm' aesmnoa or ems-mur0 1..

' nn-ms, 'rms.

vacuum: chamber macnnm I therein. v

- In continuing more in detail with thein -vent1on it may be stated that in the estabng tank 0 OFFICE.

1921.- Serial no. 206,991.

settling tank without breaking the vacuum lished rotary processes it is'the'practice to introduce the drillin lubricant into the well. through the drill pipe as the drill bit descends and wall up the cuttings between the (1131-11 pipe and the wall of the hole made by the drill bit. Especially in cases where considerable sand or loose formation is encountered, walling up, the hole is greatly depended upon to avoid caving of the wall. This practice oftenresults in passing up, or sealing out a productive sand.

Aside from these well known 'disadvan' tages in old methods ofdrilling, the operation of obtaining samples of strata is one which requires that the drill bit be withdrawn from the hole, and av sand testing tool lowered therein to remove a quantity of strata for examination, after which the drill pipe assembly is again run into the hole and drilling. resumed. This operation is obvlously slow and requires considerable effort on-the part of the drillers.

The present invention is designed to overcome these, as well as other objectionable features, by reason of its peculiar construction, through the medium of which water circulation is reversed, since it is found by drawing the earth cuttings through the drill pipe from the bit, it is possible for the driller to observe the strata; encountered without the admixture of previous strata held in suspension or eroded by-therising of the flow of water against the wall of the hole as occurs in the old rotary'processes. By the present invention the nature of the various st-ratas can be observed in their enti-rety as occurs in core drilling without interrupting the drilling operation, the strata being deposited in the settling tank emmachine, that the same retains a uniform contour and is free from pockets or cavings. as occurs in old processes, this condition being due to the fact that the strata in the present process is not subjected to the scouring eiiectsof water jets, as forced against ;it in other hydraulic processes, thus eliminatingthe ever present danger of cavings.

Ill

While it is known that machines and apparatus for raising earth cutt1ngs by suction, in dredging and dr1ll1ng,'have heretofore been constructed, such apparatus has not been adapted for'the rotary process 0 drilling and cleanin of wells, and as previously pointed out erein, it is the ob ect of the invention to provide an improved machine whereby such means of rals mg the cuttings may be successfully applied for the proiluction and cleamng especially of 011 wel s.

With the foregoin in view, particular reference is made to igures 1 and 2 of the drawings, in which a motor truck 1 is shown, u on the chassis 2 of which is mounted the e ements hereinafter referred to as constitutin the invention.

Tlpon a shaft 3 laterally extending across the rear end of the chassis 2 is mounted a frame composed of members 4, which is capable of being turned upon the chassis in the manner shown in broken lines in Figure 2, but when in operative position, ex-

tends rearwardl of the chassis 2 on a plane level with the atter.

proper. A more comprehensive view of this A collapsible mast is provided and is comosed of two sections to allow for such colapsibility, the lower section 5 being bolted to the rearmost end of the frame referred to and braced thereon by angular braces 6. The lower mast section 5 rests upon shoes 7, and intermediate the posts comprising this section is situated a rotary table 8. It is apparent that through this arrangement the rotary table rests practically uponthe ound, hence lendingto' its stability.

The elements formlng the upper mast section 9 are held relatively o erative by being bolted at 10 opposing t e pivotal joint 11, connecting the two sections together, and converge inwardly at their to s whereby to support the crown pulley an housing 12. The mast, of course, may be of any; height and when in upright position as s own in Figure 2 is stabilized by guy wires or cables 13.

The pivoted frame composed of members 4 also carries a cable drum 14, about which a cable 15 is wound and which extends over the crown pulley 12, carrying upon its free end a hook 16, which in drilling or cleanin wells, supports the. swivel 17.

he hubs of the truck rear wheels 18 have bolted thereto sprockets 19, and throu h roller chains 20, shown in broken lines or the sake of clarity, rotation is imparted to a lateral jack shaft 21 on the truck chassis arrangement is shown in Figure 1, a plan view.

A short rotary drive shaft 22 is provided near the foot of the mast and has on one end a bevel gear '23, -enmeshing the larger gear 24 of the rotary table 8, while the opf site side of the machine shown in respect posite end of the shaft carries a sprocket 25, which latter, by reason of the chain 26, is rotated from the jack shaft 21 to impart rotation to the rotary works. On the oppo- Figure 2, but clearly shown in Figure 1, is a large sprocket 27, mounted upon the lateral shaft supporting the cable drum 14. A chain 28 surrounds this as well as a smallersprocket 29 to rotate the drum. Suitable clutch means 30, is carried on the jack shaft 21, for re leasing the rota drive. Also the drum shaft 18 provid with an operating lever 31, arranged at a convenient location with to the drillers pbsition, to control the cable drum and cable.

Among the important features of the 'invention 1s -the'novel means for holding the mast in folded position'uponthe truck 1 in the manner suggested by dotted lines in Figure 2. It wi be noted in this figure that the lower mast section 5 is flanged and apertured at a immediately below the engaging polnt of the upper section 9. In

olding the mast upon itself, the upper end of the lower section 5.comes to rest upon the upright support 32 directly behind the drivers seat, in order that the aperture 0 in the mast will come to rest upon the top of the support 32, which is also a ertured. A bolt 33 is then passed through t e members to hold the same rigid. The support 32 is braced by the angular member 34 bolted to the truck chassis 2. 'The very convenient.

manner of handling the mast, and the readi-J its opposite end being connected with the SEIVGI 17. a

An outlet 38 is also provided in the tank 35, to which is connected a municating with apump 40, parent particularly in Figure 1, through s rocket 41, mounted on pump shaft 42, a c ain 43 surrounding this sprocket and a jprocket 44 mounted on the jack shaft 21.

clutch 45 is provided for controlling the 'punfrp sprocket 44 with respect to the jadk a In Figure 2 es ially, a i 46 is shown leading from iliie pump 40?t the hole 47 be' drilled or cleaned, to which reference wi be later made in the description'of operation. 7

The-tank 35 is further provided with a pipe 39, commen, as api ate from the water.

'- unease? clean-out hole 48, with'a clamp covering to avoid a ain st breakingof the vacuum therein as be presently explained.

ation of such parts will now be describe as for instance, in drilling a well.

and backed up to where the rotary table 8 may be set down upon the point where the hole is to drilled. First, however, a small hole is dug, approximately 12" in diameter. The bolt 33 holdin -the mast upon the support 32 is remove and the mast set up as shown in Figure 2. This operation sets the rotary table in operative position.'

From a source of supply, the

water thus contained in the tank is used for the drilling operation, and replaces the usua slush pit used in other processes.

The rear wheels 18 of the truck are jacked up to clear the ground and the truck engine started, and by operating the clutch, 30, and 45, the water pump 40 is put into operation receiving its supply from the contents of the tank 35, and discharging through pipe 46 into the small hole previously dug in start- 1 ing the well, as apparent in Figure 2.

water displaced from the tank 35 by the pump will cause the water in the drill pipe 49 to rise, for the reason that the drill pipe is connected to the tank.35 through kelly 50, swivel 17 and hose 37.

It is thus obvious that a continuous circulation is established from the-drill pipe and in {lhe well to thetank and back again to the We i Havin thus established circulation of water, t e drill pipe 49 is rotated and the drilling operation started, and since the drill bit used in the present equipment is provided with suitable ports, but not illustrated, the cuttings from the bit are buoyed to these ports and from there into the drill pipe by the flow of water from the well to the drill pipe. The cuttings having entered by the drill pipe are conveyed upward through the latter by the flow and discharged into the tank 35 where they are deposited and sepa- A screen 51'at the end of the tank inlet pipe 36 aids in such separation.

v The cuttings are retained in the settling settling tank 35 is filled to overflow, then sealed.- The tank while the water continues on its course.

throughthe pum ;and' back again to the well. As the dri ing operation progresses,

it is essential'that the water level n the well be maintained within the limits of the .efliclency suction head of the pump; This is V j 7 readily accomplished by the addition of The truck is driven to .the desired location The drill cuttings beingthus drawn up-' A I ward and deposited in the tank 35, the strata through which the drill is passing is being discharged in the tank in'layers in progressivc order, from which'samples may be removed without interrupting the drilling operatlon nor breaking thesuction in the tank.

For this purpose a proof stick 52 is provided,

and shown in detail in Figure 4. This member slides into the end, of the tank 35 as shown in Figures 1 and 3 especially, and has therein a longitudinal slot or groove 53, maintained normally onnthe underside, the cuttings, striking the stick opposite the groove as they fall from the inlet 36. The proof stick 52 has upon its inner end a sand level gauge 54,- through which the level of cuttings within the tank 35 may be determined by simply rotating the stick.

When desired to make a test of strata, the proof stick is turned until the groove is in upright posit-ion, in which position it is permitted to remain a short time, to receive cuttings as they enter through inlet 36, after which it is withdrawn and a true sample removed from the groove.

The tank 35 is also equipped with a pressure gauge 55 by which the vacuum or suction created within the tank is determined.

This process is particularly adaptable to the cleaning out of wells where decline of production is caused by drifting of sand in- Where decline is caused by clogging of i the screen or immediate strata by paraflin, the apparatus can be successfully employed for circulating hot water or petroleum to the strata and screen so as to melt or dissolve the paraflin from the strata qr screen and completely remove the same from the well through the drill pipe, which is impossible in other types of rotary processes, and in this manner increase production.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that through the extremely. simple and practical drilling machine combined with the process of continuous water circulation, a well may be actually drilled or cleaned out to resume or increase production in a shorter time and in a moreeconomical manner than machines dependent upon swabbing or bailing, since in the improved machine, 511 forei 'substance is completely removed instea of being pushed aside .to again later interfere with production. 1

Manifestly the construction shown is capable of considerable modification and such modification as is in keeping with the appended claims is also considered within the spirit of the invention. 7

What is claimed is v 1. A portable rotary well drilling and cleaning machine for 'elevatin cuttings by fluid circulation through the rill stem embodying a motor truck, a frame pivoted at one end to the rear end of the truck for vertical swinging movement, a shaft carried by the frame, means to drive the shaft from the motor of the truck, a foldable. mast composed of lower section rigidly secured to the rear end of the frame and an upper section hinged to the lower section, t e lower end of the lower section extending below the frame ground engaging shoes on said'lower end the lower section to hold the frame in horizontal position, a rotary for operating the drill stem carried by said shoes, means to drive the rotary from the'shaft, and a vertical support carried by the truck and located in front of the frame, said support being engageable with the upper end of the lower mast section in folded position of the latter.

2. A portable rotary well drilling and cleaning machine forelevating cuttings by fluid circulation through the drill stem em-' bodyin a motor truck, a frame pivoted at .one en to the rear end of the truck for verthe shaft.

3. In a portable rotary well drilling'an-d cleaning machine for elevating cuttings by -fluid circulation through thedrill stem, 9.

motor truck, a frame pivoted to the rear end of the truck for vertical swinging .movements, a collapsible mast composed of movably connected sections, the. lower one of' which sections is rigidl secured to the frame and projects-there low, ground enga 'ing means carried by said lower section to hold the frame in horizontal position, a rotary for operating the drill stem carried by saidlower section, means to operate the rotary from the motor of the truck, and means carried by the truckfor supporting the mast collapsed and with said frame in its upwardly swung position.

4. In a portable rotary'well drilling and cleaning machine for elevating cuttings by fluid circulation through the drill stem, a motor truck,.a frame pivoted to the rear end of the truck for vertical swinging movements, a collapsible 'mast composed of movably connected sections, the lower one of which sections is rigidly secured to the frame and projects 'therebelow 'ground'engaging means carried by said ower section to hold the frame in horizontal position, a rotary for operating the drill stem carried by said lower section, and means to o erate the rotary from the motor of the true 5. In a portable. rotary well drilling and cleaning machine for elevating cuttings by fluid circulation through the drill stem, a motor truck, a frame pivoted to the truck for vertical swinging movements, a collapsible mast composed of movably connected sections, the lower of which is rigidly secured to the frame and which PI'OJGCtS below the frame, ground engaging means carried by said lower section, a rotary for operating the drill stem carried by the ground engaging means, a cable drum on the frame, means to actuate the drum from the motor, and means to actuate the rotary from the motor.

6. A portable rotary well' drilling and cleaning machine for elevating cuttings by fluid circulation through the drill stem, including a motor truck, a frame pivoted to the truck for vertical swinging movements, a mast havin a lower portion rigidly secured to the frame and projecting therebelow, ground engaging means carried by said 7 lower portion of the mast and formed to stationarily seat on the surface of the ground thereby to support the mast from and means to operate the rotary from the motor of the truck.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HI MANNING. 

